February 28, 2011

MojoMapp: a new app for singles

Remember the days when we would go out with our single girlfriends and we’d sit at the bar and wouldn’t pay a dime for drinks all night and the cute boys would come along and chat us up and whisper sweet nothings in our ears?

Yea, I don’t remember those days either. But I’m sure they happened at some point during those hazy college years.

In any event, as anyone trying to navigate the dating scene in New York (or any other big city) can tell you: sometimes it’s hard to know where the singles are hanging out. How many times have you put on your finest hoochie wear, grabbed your girlfriends, and hit up the newest hip spot, only to discover that A) you totally left the tag on your hoochie shirt, B) there are no single men in sight, C) the cute guy you are flirting with at the bar is already taken, or D) you accidentally walked into a gay bar and now you are flirting with a really adorable chick named Lucy? What? These things have only happened to me?!

Well, my dear readers, there is a new app for us singles that may help clear things up a bit.

I was recently contacted by Nancy, one of the cofounders of MojoMapp. Her enthusiasm is extremely contagious, and I gotta’ say… I get it. Why? Because this is an app I would absolutely use. It’s FREE (at least for now!), it’s anonymous (this is the biggest selling point for me), and it gives you an idea of approximately how many singles are hanging out in a given bar in your area at any given time as well as gender and sexual orientation (developers are trying to add the age ranges of singles). When you step foot in a bar, club, or lounge, it will update your check-in info for up to two hours (again providing only your gender and sexual preference). If the scene is lame, you can move your party elsewhere (and MojoMapp will update your check-in when you hit up the next spot). Perfect anytime you want to organize an impromptu ladies night.

As I explained to Nancy, I have a hard time with things like Foursquare because I don’t want to give anyone specific information about where I am checking in. It’s a scary world out there and I think we have to keep our wits about us.

She couldn’t agree more.

MojoMapp will also feature a virtual wall that users can write messages on. If you want to call attention to yourself, perhaps you can announce that you are standing by the bar in a blue sweatshirt and are willing to buy a drink to the first curly-haired brunette who catches your attention. Okay, wishful thinking.

As of this writing, MojoMapp is in the final approval stages by iTunes and should soon be available on your iPhone or Droid. I have also put in a special request for the Palm Pre for all three of us who have this phone. Click here to find out more information about MojoMapp.

This post was not sponsored by MojoMapp and all opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Posted at: 9:38 am by |Filed Under: dating | , 17 Comments
February 21, 2011

cupid strikes again

So far, I’ve had a bit more luck on OKCupid than I did on Match.com. But it’s far from a walk in the park, let me tell you. I’ve been emailing back and forth with one guy who seems interested in keeping this relationship online only. Then just yesterday I received an email from someone who, when asked what people first notice about him, responded by saying “I don’t talk much.” Oh, and let’s not forget about the guy who said he hates it when men discuss the size of their manhood in their profiles… only to finish by saying that women would be very pleased with the size of his manhood.

Oh, and it gets better.

A few nights ago while doing a keyword search for Phish on OKCupid (as I do), I came across Ethan’s profile. Same guy who told me he was too busy to hang out had a profile on another dating service. And he was active! Too busy my ass.

I could allow these events to stop me in my tracks, but I refuse to allow that to happen. I realize that putting myself out there means it’s essential to have a healthy outlook on the dating world. It’s not always easy, but I have to remind myself that I deserve better and I won’t dare settle for anything less.

Because every now and then, a nice guy comes along.

I found Nate’s profile the other night (turns out we’re 90% compatible. And we met at a party a few weeks ago and have friends in common, but that’s for another post). He’s a kind, funny, smart, liberal, and handsome boy from Brooklyn. He posted a pic with his mommy and a link to beagle puppies. He believes in bringing soup when his lady is sick and hopes it isn’t a problem that he likes to drive.

I smiled to myself and knew I had to wink at him. An hour later, he emailed me back. I get the impression he’s not looking to mess around and I find that extremely refreshing. There’s a good chance we’ll have a date this week, but I know not to get too excited.

What’s strange is that I found myself questioning his motives. I discussed this with my friend Nicole and she essentially affirmed how jaded we have become. How fucked up is it when we can’t just accept that a nice guy on paper could actually be a nice guy in real life?

Posted at: 6:19 pm by |Filed Under: dating | , , 27 Comments
February 16, 2011

let it bend before it breaks

I never actually followed up about Ethan. I emailed him last week because his communication was sporadic at best and I didn’t want to hold on to hope that a second date would materialize with someone who may not even be interested.

I thought it best to play it cool and even gave him an easy out. I told him that sometimes we meet someone we have a better connection with, or we realize we are no longer interested, or life just gets in the way. Whatever the reason, I wrote, I was very happy to have met him but that I hope I’m wrong and he’d still like to grab a drink at some point.

He emailed back a few hours later (his best response time to date) explaining how busy he’s been but that he would still love to take me out. Unfortunately, he couldn’t give me any indication as to when that might be so he understood if I didn’t want to wait around. He also said he thought I was an awesome girl and that I deserved better than that.

He’s absolutely right. I do deserve better.

And clearly he’s just not that into me.

It’s cool. I mean, sure, I’m disappointed, but such is life sometimes. I’m realizing now how hard it is to find myself on common ground with these men. What I wouldn’t give to be wrapped up in the pages of a romance novel for a chapter or two just to taste what that feels like again. But I trust there’s something greater and I’ll fall in love again when the time is right.

In the meantime, I told Ethan maybe we’d bump into each other at a show, since we share the same taste in music. There’s no reason to burn that bridge. While it may not have worked out, I still think he’s a great guy and someone I would love to see again. Some things are just not meant to be and I am at peace with that.

In an effort to lick my barely there wounds, I decided to join OkCupid. Free site, adorable/intelligent boys in Brooklyn, and so far I’ve noticed a lot more Phish phans and vegetarians than on Match.com. I have nothing to lose. And besides, I’m not done playing the field just yet.

Posted at: 8:14 pm by |Filed Under: dating | letting go | 23 Comments
February 14, 2011

[sponsored post] How About We…

If you are a regular follower of My Pixie Blog, then you know that I have spent the last few weeks on Match.com. Part social experiment/part sincere interest in clicking with someone in the digital age, my efforts have not been terribly successful. I have decided not to renew my subscription when my three-month trial runs it’s course.

I’m a little tired of kissing frogs, to be perfectly honest.

So it was an interesting turn of events when I was asked to write a post on a new dating site. I found myself having yet another panic attack; the kind that only comes from “putting myself out there.” Did I really want to subject myself to a new school of fish with the same boring profiles?

I was reluctant until I clicked on the link and saw for myself.

HowAboutWe.com is a new service that infuses some fun and romance into the dating scene. Users are asked to describe their perfect date and if a suitor is interested, away they go to see if they are a match. I was particularly impressed with the creative dates some of the men came up with and I think this might be the perfect site for those of us who suffer from first-date jitters.

Why sit in uncomfortably high chairs at a loud and crowded bar when you can take your date to an aquarium? Are you the adventurous type? Perhaps trapeze school is just for you! Or how about signing up for a cooking class? These are just some of the dates I saw mentioned and they left me with a better understanding of who these men are.

After some thought, I think my ideal date would consist of dinner at Red Bamboo (my favorite vegetarian restaurant in the city) followed by some music at Sullivan Hall. I’m holding on to hope that perhaps that I can find my prince after all.

HowAboutWe.com is offering a very special 33% OFF to all My Pixie Blog readers just in time for Valentine’s Day! Simply enter promo code VDAYFUN at checkout.

This post was sponsored by HowAboutWe.com.

Posted at: 8:07 am by |Filed Under: dating | , 19 Comments
February 7, 2011

the awakening

Did you ever do anything so out of character that you actually surprised yourself?

Just yesterday, I woke up bright and early (if you know me personally, you’ll know that’s quite a feat in and of itself), tied on my bikini, and boarded a train heading to Long Beach, NY, to dive into the icy waters for the Polar Bear Superbowl Plunge. I met up with some friends from college, we pre-gamed, and then headed in direction of the boardwalk. The sun was shining, weather was sweet, and it was all for a great cause–the Make-a-Wish foundation. It’s not too late to make a donation, and, if you feel so inclined, you may do so here.

The night before the plunge, I questioned my sanity as nerves set in. Sure, I do yoga in intense heat. But this? This was scary. It also made me think of all the things I tell myself regularly that I won’t/can’t do in life and how silly that is. As I held hands with my friends and ran into the water, I realized that I’m capable of a lot more than I give myself credit for and I refuse to let fear, insecurity, or doubt play a role in my life any longer.

Here are some pics of the event (hand warmers were a life saver. Hat not so much):

Also, thank you to all who participated in last week’s meme. Believe it or not, not one person guessed correctly (I suppose I’m a much better liar than I thought!). I don’t have a PPL, can’t drink beer, don’t know how to swim, and have been a vegetarian for the past 14 years. So that leaves #3 as the correct answer. I was a coxswain at SUNY Albany but it was a rather short-lived stint since 4:30 in the morning is a god-awful time to get out of bed and besides, who the hell wants to wake up just to yell at people?

But it was as a coxswain that I began to enjoy the peace and stillness that comes with being in the presence of a large body of water. And there was something about pulling the boat on to the cool, glass surface that resonated with me. The graceful dance of the rowers, the way the boat rocked gently back and forth as the waves caressed its sides, the reassuring glimpse of a majestic sunrise. It brings to mind a quote from the British philosopher Alan Watts (and fuels a passion within me to learn how to swim asap): “To have faith is to trust yourself to the water. When you swim you don’t grab hold of the water, because if you do you will sink and drown. Instead you relax, and float.”

As it is with the water, may it be in life.

Posted at: 7:45 pm by |Filed Under: letting go | , 32 Comments
February 4, 2011

mixin’ up the truth

Thank Buddha for the lovely, sassy, and sweet Saucy B who tagged me in this week’s Liar, Liar meme. I actually had about four different blog posts written but I couldn’t think of which one to publish. I’ve been in a bit of a February funk (anyone else prone to feeling a bit low this time of year?) and I didn’t want that to come through in my writing. I started a “how to date online” post to the single men on the market because sometimes they need pointers, too, and maybe I’m getting a bit frustrated with the games they play (looking at you, Ethan). I’m not mad atcha’, just think that maybe we can learn from each other, right? Stay tuned!

So apparently I have to share five things about myself, but four of these are lies. Can you guess which of the following is true?

1) I received my Private Pilot License (PPL) in the summer of ’02. I have already flown a helicopter and a single-engine land plane.

2) I am a beer connoisseur and was first introduced to a hefeweizen at Oktoberfest when I was 14.

3) I was the coxswain in college for the novice women’s rowing team (eight women). I also coxed (hee) the men’s varsity team for a competition.

4) I have been swimming since I was four and was a lifeguard for years at summer camp.

5) I could never give up eating meat with a German mother who knows how to make a good sauerbraten and schnitzel.

Interested in playing along? Here’s what you need to do!

  • Display the fugly graphic above.
  • List four lies and one truth about yourself.
  • Link up at Yeah. Good Times.
  • Pass this on to five other bloggers.

I won’t put anyone on the spot, but if you’re interested in playing along, let me know so I can follow you back and leave you some bloggy love!

Finally, I would like to introduce you all officially to my big sister Connie of Sogni e Sorrisi. We are participating in Krysten’s bloggy big sister/little sister program and I couldn’t be more excited about this. I want to learn all there is to know about this community and I’m eager to learn from Connie, who has a very steady following with her colorful, adorable, and fashion-forward blog. She also wrote me a beautiful letter which arrived yesterday and I can’t remember the last time I received anything in my mailbox that wasn’t a bill, wedding invitation, or baby announcement. It was a wonderful surprise. I miss the good ol’ days when I would wait for the mailman. Connie, expect something soon!

Posted at: 1:52 pm by |Filed Under: meme | 14 Comments